Amid a historic crisis and coaching instability, River Plate is attempting to intercept Flamengo’s negotiations for Thiago Almada, even as the Rubro-Negro intensifies its efforts in Argentina.
The transfer market is heating up behind the scenes at Flamengo. The Rio de Janeiro club continues to be in deep negotiations to sign midfielder Thiago Almada, but they have encountered a direct competitor: River Plate.
The Argentine club, despite facing a turbulent period both on and off the pitch, is attempting to pull a fast one on the Rubro-Negro to bring the player back home, as he considers a return to his native country to be closer to his family.
However, River Plate‘s situation is delicate. The team is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, recording the worst start in its history in AFA tournaments.
With five consecutive losses in the opening rounds of the national championship, the team managed by Eduardo Coudet has yet to earn any points, having suffered setbacks against teams such as Belgrano, Aldosivi, Barracas Central, Gimnasia, and Rosario Central.
Managerial crisis and uncertainty
In addition to their poor performance in the local league, River Plate was eliminated early from the country’s domestic cup and failed to secure a spot in the Copa Libertadores. Now, the focus has shifted to the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, where they will face Santa Fe. This scenario of instability puts the job of manager Eduardo Coudet in imminent danger.
The potential firing of the coach creates uncertainty regarding the sporting project that would attract Thiago Almada. Should a change in leadership occur, the player would be joining a club without the very manager who, in theory, requested his signing.
To complicate matters, River Plate is also running into financial hurdles: their 20-million-euro offer (approximately 117.3 million BRL) did not provide the guarantees required by Atlético de Madrid, which holds the player’s rights.
Flamengo’s efforts
To prevent the deal with the Argentine club from progressing, Flamengo‘s director of football, José Boto, traveled personally to Buenos Aires. The board’s objective is to overcome the obstacles and convince Thiago Almada to choose the Brazilian football project over a return to Argentina.
However, the move is sparking internal debate. According to analysis from the M360 Team, Flamengo‘s effort in a complex negotiation for a player who does not view the club as an absolute priority warrants caution.
There is an assessment that the football department’s focus should be turned toward other alternatives, such as Luiz Henrique, who could offer a more immediate and concrete contribution to the Rubro-Negro squad this season.
M360 Team
